Trans Israel

Day 1:Arrival

Highlights:, Neve Tzedek, crusader castle, "Baraam" National park, Tzfat.Welcome to Israel! Experience an authentic and intimate connection to this epic land and its people.Upon your arrival, one of our representatives will meet you at the airport and assist you with your luggage. Afterwards you will meet your guide who will drive with you to the hotel, help you check-in and leave you to rest. Before dinner we will enjoy a short walking tour on Neve Tzedek, a beautiful and historical part of the city. Over our welcome dinner, your guide will explain the itinerary for the following days.Cycling Distance: NoneOvernight: Tel-Aviv, Casual.

Day 2:Carmel to Caesarea

Highlights: Horn of Carmel, Binyamina, CaesareaFirst thing in the morning travel from Tel Aviv to the Horn of Carmel, to the biblical site where Elijah fought against the prophets of Ba’al (Kings 1). After enjoying a spectacular view of the Galilee, you will continue biking down the slope of the Carmel. Riding through the Amikam region, which is known as the Tuscany of Israel. Stop for lunch in a local winery at the old town of Binyamina. From there you ride to Caesarea, built in the 1st century BC by Herod the Great. Bike along the aqueduct all the way to the ancient port. Afterwards, take a short walking tour of the city that was once the capitol of Judea. From Caesarea travel to Nazareth.Cycling Distance: 50 Km, Moderate.Overnight: Nazareth, Casual.

​Day 3: Nazareth to Kfar Tavor

Highlights: Church of Annunciation, Mt Tabor, Circassian lunch, Golan winery, Mt HermonStart your day with a short walking tour of the old city of Nazareth, biblical home of Jesus, the church of Annunciation and market. From here leave Nazareth and cycle to Mt Tabor, overlooking the Galilee. Ride through the Beit Keshet Forest toward the village of Daburia, named after the prophettess Deborah. Climb up Mt. Tabor, known as the place of Jesus's transfiguration, and see Byzantine and Crusader fortresses. From here bike to Shibli, a Bedouin village, and then to Kfar Kama and enjoy an authentic Circassian lunch. Spend some time after lunch exploring the beautiful village of this unique ethnic group. Continue cycling to Kfar Tavor,and finish your ride at a local winery.Cycling Distance: 35 Km, Moderate/Challenging.Overnight: Kfar Tavor, Casual.

Day 4:The Sea of Galilee, Golan Heights & Jordon valley

Highlights: Sea of Galilee, Kibbutz style lunch, Hamat Gader,Today you will head towards the Sea of Galilee passing through several small villages on our way. Riding down the slope towards the Sea of Galilee, you will see a great view of the Golan Heights. Stop to visit Moshava Kinneret, a histrical Israeli landmark, and the birth place of the Kibbutz. Continue through Dgania, the first kibbutz ever established, to enjoy a kibbutz style lunch. Ride towards the Golan Heights to Hamat Gader, a place of ancient and modern bath houses built over hot springs which were in used in the time of the Roman Empire. After enjoying a bath in warm water, head back to the shore of the Sea of Galilee where we will spend the night.Cycling Distance: 90 Km, Moderate.Overnight: Kibbutz Magan, Casual.

​Day 5; Kibbutz Magan to Merom Golan

Highlights: Golan Heights, Mt Bental, local wineries, "Gamla" national park, Yardenit baptismal siteYou start the day by cycling to top of the Golan Heights (steep hill, with an optional transfer). From here you overlook the Galilee on one side and Syria on the other. The Golan is home to some of Israel’s most interesting places and people.Cycling to Gamla, a city that rebeled and was destroyed against the Roman Empire, several years before Masada. Cycling along the back roads of the region, you will enjoy wine tasting in the local wineries.Cycling Distance: 90 Km, Challenging (or 50 km Moderate)Overnight: Merom Golan, Casual.​

​Day 6: Merom Golan to Mt Gilboa

​Highlights:Beit Shan, Harod springs, Mt GilboaSet out of Merom Golan cycling down to the Jordan river and arrive in Beit Shan. End your ride with a refreshing swim in the natural pools of the Harod springs. If you are interested in an additional hike before the end of the ride, head up to Mt Gilboa where you will meet our one of representatives who will take you by car to Jerusalem.Cycling Distance: 80 Km, Moderate/Challenging.Overnight: Jerusalem, Casual.Add on options: A Tour Guide for this day.

Day 7: Jerusalem

Highlights: Jerusalem by bike, Sabbath in Jerusalem,Take advantage of the Sabbath in Jerusalem, and ride through the city streets and alleys. Tour through the Israeli parliament, The Valley of the Cross, the historic neighborhood of Rehavia, the German Colony and an overlook to the Old City. This trademark ride follows small streets, bike lanes, short cuts and hidden alleys unknown to most. For lunch, stop at the gate of the Old City, and continue in the afternoon in the Old City with its colorful markets and local food.Cycling Distance: 20 km, ModerateOvernight: Jerusalem, Casual.Add on options: A Tour Guide for this day.

Day 8: Jerusalem

​ Highlights: Fully guided day, night ride, Church of the Holy Sepulcher, Western Wall, underground tunnelsOur day will focus on the 3000 year old city of Jerusalem, enclosed in walls and full of history. Our tour will take us through the alleys of the Old City, the Church of the Holy Sepulcher, and the Western Wall. We will also visit the Jewish Quarter and the underground tunnels that go along the walls of the Second Temple. After passing through the market you will be free to choose whether to return to your hotel or tour on your own in the Old City until we meet again in the evening. Around dusk, we will leave for the breathtaking experience of a night ride in the city of Jerusalem. We will pass the Prime Ministers home, Valley of the Cross, Israeli Parliament and Supreme Court and then head through the market to Jaffa gate. We will then devote some time for riding inside the allies of the Old City, ending back at downtown Jerusalem where we will enjoy a late night dinner.Cycling Distance: 20 km, ModerateOvernight: Jerusalem, Casual.

Day 9:Judean Hills To the Negev

The hills surrounding Jerusalem hold some of the best cycling routes in Israel, and we will probably see dozens of other cyclists as we head on our way. We will start riding from Bar Giora and head downhill towards Beit Shemesh (optional ride out of the city- additional 20 KM). We will ride through the Adolam Park, where we will get a glimpse of the famous caves where Bar Kochva and his supporters hid from the Romans in the year 135 AD. From here we will ride to the Ella Valley, the Biblical site of David and Goliath’s battle, and continue for a lunch and a taste of wine from Israel’s leading wine region. After lunch we will continue our ride through the rolling hills of the region and arrive at Kibbutz Galon where we will spend the nightMeals: Breakfast, Lunch, DinnerApproximate Cycling Distance: 50-70 kmOvernight: Galon Kibbutz Hotel

To the Negev

​Day 10: Kibbutz Galon to Arad

We will leave our Kibbutz and ride to explore the ruins of Beit Guvrin, a system of enchant caves dating back to different empires that passed through here. From here we will ride along the quiet by roads of the Region, passing the biblical Tel Lachish, and vineyards left and right. The ride will end at a visit to the Joe Allon museum of Bedouin Culture, where we will learn about the first habitats of the Negev region, where we will be passing for the next few days. From here we will ride by bus to the desert town of Arad, where we will spend the night.Meals: Breakfast, Lunch Approximate Cycling Distance: 50-70 kmOvernight: Arad

Day 11:Masada, the Dead Sea & The Peace Route

Our ride will begin in Arad, a small town built in the 1950′s as part of the movement to settle the desert. We will ride from here on a small road that goes through the desert with its spectacular views. We will stop for lunch in a Bedouin tent and then continue to Masada. Once we arrive at the site, we will leave the bikes and walk up the ramp, built by the Romans on their way to the historic conquer of the mountain. Here at the top, we will see the remains of one of the last villages to fight the Roman Empire, and one of Israel’s most important landmarks. After the visit, we will ride down by cable car and meet our bikes for a short ride along the shore of the Dead Sea. Once we reach the Dead Sea we will have time to relax and float in the water at the lowest place on earth.Meals: Breakfast, Dinner| Approximate Cycling Distance: 40 Km | Overnight: Hatzeva

Day 12: The Peace Route to Arava

​Today will be a fairly easy ride in the Northern Arava desert region. We will be riding along one of the prettiest roads in Israel known as the “Peace Trail” along the Israeli Jordanian border. On the way we will ride in between small fields and green houses, producing food for export in the desert. We will stop at one of the small villages on the way for lunch and a swim in their pool (depending on season) and then ride back via the red rock “Wadi” to Hatzeva. We will spend the night at one of the local communities, and enjoy dinner in a peaceful B&BMeals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner Approximate Cycling Distance: 50 Km Overnight: Arava B&B

Day 13: The Ramon Crater and Deep Negev Desert

Today will be quite a challenge, with two large climbs out of the valley to the plains of the central Negev region. We will be riding on a peaceful road, following an ancient Roman route through the Hatira Creator. The ride is beautiful, and the scenery is well worth the effort. We will stop for lunch in the Large Crater, and then continue to the town of Yerucham. From here there will be an optional transfer for those who wish to skip the last 20 Km leg. We will arrive at the Ben Gurion collage in Sde Boker, the burial place of Israel’s first prime minister and a community living to fulfill his dream of the Negev. After a short walk on the cliffs looking over the Zin Valley we will drive to Mitzpe Ramon for the night.Optional visit to local café/bar on the cliff if time permits.Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, DinnerApproximate Cycling Distance: 65-85KmOvernight: Mitzpe Ramon

​Day 14: Ramon Crater to Kibbutz Lotan

We will leave after breakfast and head down to the Crater crossing through this breathtaking part of the world. This unique geological phenomenon is credited to be one of the modern wonders of the world, an unbelievable valley full of colors and shapes that will accompany you through your ride. We will ride south crossing over the Pharan Wadi and will arrive at Shitim for lunch. This small community, set in the middle of the desert is home to a desert Ashram where we will have lunch and relax at the small pool. From here we will continue down the road and end our ride at the environmental community at Kibbutz Lotan there during the hot hours of the day. Once the sun comes down we will enjoy dinner with the residence of the Kibbutz, and the desert silence.Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, DinnerApproximate Cycling Distance: 100 Km (more downhill than uphill) Overnight: Lotan Kibutz Hotel

Day 14:Eilat

“Hei Daroma” To EilatThe last stretch of the tour is long yet very rewarding. We will ride along the border with Egypt, looking into the Sinai Desert. This small road will take us from the Southern Negev to the Eilat Mountains. The road will climb up to the pass near Mt Shlomo and from there we will descent towards Eilat on the shores of the Red Sea. We will ride straight for the beach and celebrate arrival with a cold beer and a swim in the cool water. From here we will ride to the hotel and check in to our rooms. After relaxing, we will head to a local restaurant for a farewell dinner.Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner | Approximate Cycling Distance: 87 Km | Overnight: Eilat

Day 15: Day at leisure at Eilat

Enjoy the beaches and underwater world at Israel’s southern resort town.​